Leander Dolphin Honored by Nat’l Bar Assoc with “40 Under 40” Award

Shipman & Goodwin attorney Leander A. Dolphin is among the recipients of the National Bar Association’s (NBA) 2017 “40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates” award. As the nation’s oldest and largest national network of predominantly African-American attorneys and judges, the NBA strives to improve the administration of justice, preserve the independence of the judiciary and uphold the honor and integrity of the legal profession. At the Awards Gala during the NBA’s 92nd Annual Convention in Toronto, Canada, recipients were recognized for their display of advocacy, innovation, vision, leadership, and overall legal and community involvement.

As a partner in the firm’s School Law Practice Group, Ms. Dolphin represents public school districts, independent schools, colleges and universities in education and employment matters, and counsels private, public and non-profit employers on employment issues. She is a frequently requested speaker, and an Adjunct Professor of Education Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law.

Ms. Dolphin is highly engaged in advancing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. She is Co-Chair of Shipman & Goodwin’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, which promotes understanding, empowerment and advancement of diverse professionals and sponsors organizations that raise awareness of diversity. She previously served as Secretary and a member of the Board of Directors of the George W. Crawford Black Bar Association, a statewide affiliate of NBA. She was a member of the Lawyers Collaborative for Diversity’s Associates Advisory Committee.

In committing her time and experience to the community, Ms. Dolphin seeks to align her service with organizations focusing on education, diversity and youth development. Since 2012, she has served as a Board Member of The Governor’s Prevention Partnership. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ethel Walker School and a former Trustee of The Hartt School (which is the performing arts conservatory of the University of Hartford). Ms. Dolphin previously served as Vice President, General Counsel of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut. She has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a James W. Cooper Fellow of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, a Connecticut Law Tribune “New Leader in the Law” and one of the “100 Women of Color” in the Greater Hartford area.

Stay Connected

About our firm

With more than 175 attorneys in offices throughout Connecticut, New York and in Washington, DC, we serve the needs of local, regional, national and international clients. Our clients include public and private companies, institutions, government entities, non-profit organizations and individuals.